Ford Motor Co.’s recall of millions of late-model trucks and SUVs calls into question the quality of its popular line of work vehicles. The Sept. 7 announcement also reveals how sensitive components, poorly designed and maintained, can cascade into serious problems. Top Five Automotive Recalls Manufacturer Year No. Affected Problem Ford Motor Co. 1996 7.9 million Ignition switch General Motors 1971 6.7 million Engine mount General Motors 1981 5.8 million Rear axle control arm Ford Motor Co. 2005 4.5 million Cruise control switch Ford Motor Co. 1972 4.1 million Shoulder belt Source: NHTSA. number affected reflects total production. The 4.5
Sewer Buddy One Tool Cuts and Bevels PVC Pipe Manufacturer introduces a new product to help contractors complete their work more effectively. Called the Sewer Buddy, the tool is designed to cut and bevel SDR35 pipe in a trench or prepare laterals above ground. This battery-operated, right-angle grinder features an electroplated 4 1�2-in. diamond blade with a 16-flute beveler mounted on it. The Sewer Buddy comes complete with a storage case, two batteries and a 110-Volt charger. It is also available with an optional cigarette lighter charger. U.S. Saws; 866-987-7297; www.ussaws.net Truck Bed Light Weight and Low Deck The Retriever
4-Inch Trash Pump Four Easy Lifting Handles The QP-4TH, a new 4-in. trash pump, is designed for removing water with high solid content from quarries, mines and other construction sites. Sand, sticks, stones and other debris up to 2 in. in diameter can easily pass through the pump. The QP-4TH offers a maximum pumping capacity of 555 gallons per minute. It has an 11-hp Honda gasoline engine and boasts a maximum head of 92 ft. The pump is housed in a strong aluminum die-cast pump casing and will be available with a diesel engine option in October. The Multiquip Inc.;
SLI Battery Provides More Engine Cranking Power Manufacturer introduces a new starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery that provides up to 70% more starting power at low temperatures than traditional wet cell batteries. The ODYSSEY PC2150 is designed for heavy-duty deep-cycle applications ranging from over-the-road trucks and construction equipment to fire trucks and more. It weighs 75 lb and has a service life of six to eight years and can be stored for up to two years at 77� when fully charged. EnerSys; 610/208-1991; www.odysseyfactory.com Telehandler Power Shuttle Transmission The new MLT 627 telehandler is an update to model MLT
If Hurricane Katrina�s devastation was ever underestimated, so was the slippery fuel mess that the storm created for construction truckers. The Internal Revenue Service is allowing truck owners all over the U.S. to use red-dyed diesel fuel without tax penalties through Sept. 15. The IRS announcement, made on Sept. 2, is "in response to shortages of clear diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Katrina," the agency says. In a joint effort days before, the Environmental Protection Agency lifted its ban on dyed diesel in highway trucks. Refiners can put dyed diesel into the fuel chain only after clear, low-sulfur diesel stocks
Suppliers are loading up trucks and heading to the Gulf states. (Photo: Courtesy of Godwin Pumps of America Inc.) Cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina could clean out construction suppliers over the next year. Builders working far away from the Gulf Coast are likely to experience shortages, lagging deliveries and higher prices, experts say. "Inventories are low and there isn�t a lot of used equipment sitting around doing nothing," says Charles R. Yengst, a Wilton, Conn.-based analyst who tracks the heavy machinery market. Suppliers already are feeling the pressure. "We are seeing brisk business as far away as Texas and Arkansas
Rock Crushers Flexible Installations Aggregate equipment manufacturer’s new Nordberg GP550 cone crusher and C3054 wide-jaw crusher are the newest to join its product lineup. The GP550 crusher allows an installation height of 9.2 ft and has a top power output of 471 hp. New lube systems, pumps and bearings boost reliability, says the producer. The new C3054 fits both stationary and mobile plants. It has a 30-in. by 54-in. nominal feed opening and crusher speed of 260 RPM. Metso Minerals; 262/717-2500; www.metsominerals.com Concrete Sealer For Decorative Concrete Chemical maker offers a new, 100% acrylic sealer designed specifically for decorative concrete.
Oil prices are skyrocketing with more force than the U.S. space shuttle program, prompting a truck supplier to offer a new giveaway. But observers think today’s hot summer deals will do little to keep purchases from cooling off tomorrow. Just after General Motors Corp. had a successful run of its employee discount campaign, Navistar International, the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corp., thinks giving away free fuel is the ticket to selling more commercial trucks. Dealers hope to convince construction fleet owners to pick up a new 4000-Series International truck by offering with it a pre-paid debit card
ODLAND Some used construction equipment runs great, but can end up in a bone yard if it looks more like an old dog than a performer. A farmer in Mitchell, S.D., is bringing old dogs back to life with a patented paint finish he makes from vegetable oil. "We found a way to change oxidized equipment and reactivate its present surface," says Lynn Odland, president of Dakota AG Innovations. The alternative to a $3,000 paint job has become the secret weapon of many equipment rental firms, dealers and auctioneers. Companies say they use it to get a 20% gain in
International's 4000 Series comes with a free fill-up. (Photo by International Truck and Engine Corp.) Oil prices are skyrocketing with more force than the U.S. space shuttle program, prompting truck suppliers to fuel around with a new giveaway. Meanwhile, off-road producers are trying keep up with a still-robust demand for construction machines. Soon after the success of General Motors' "employee discount" campaign, Navistar International, the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corp., thinks that giving away free fuel is the ticket to selling more commercial vehicles. Its dealers hope to convince construction fleet owners to pick up a new
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